Destination highlights

About the tour

The ferry crossing from any of our UK ports is a relaxing way to begin a few days of sightseeing that will include pretty countryside along with superb food and drink.

This is the perfect short tour for exploring coastal towns and picturesque countryside. Castro Urdiales and Hondarribia are attractive fishing ports with great restaurants and tapas bars. Bilbao, famous for the Guggenheim museum, as well as San Sebastian, a lovely 'belle époque' seaside resort, are also both worth visiting.

The drive inland to La Rioja, one of the best known Spanish wine producing regions, is no distance and while staying in Laguardia, there is a museum next to the hotel where you can learn all about this delightful nectar before trying a glass or two in the bodegas of this charming medieval town. And, you can buy lots to take home too!

You can combine any of our car and motorcycle tours, or you can even plan your very own itinerary from scratch using any of our hotels in Spain. Perhaps you just want to add a few nights to one of these tours? Anything is possible - just ask!

Save up to 20% on tours

Limited time offer. Prices shown have not been discounted. Saving applies to the basic holiday cost only. Excludes weekend and seasonal supplements, on board accommodation when travelling to France, vehicle supplements, additional passengers and pets. Cannot be combined with any other offer. New bookings only. Offer ends midnight 28 May 2019. Holiday terms apply.

How to book

Our friendly team is available to assist you with your booking or any questions you may have. Please call us quoting the tour reference.

0330 159 4500

Tour itinerary

Tours can start on any day from any town on the itinerary but must follow the route in either direction. Approximate tour distances are calculated from the first to the last location. Should any location be unavailable we'll advise alternatives.

Where you'll stay

1 night in Castro Urdiales

2 nights in Laguardia

1 night in Hondarribia

The itinerary gives you the opportunity to explore two different aspects of this part of northern Spain - charming coastal towns, fishing ports and seaside resorts, and peaceful green countryside. Then it's an easy drive down to La Rioja, one of Spain’s most famous wine regions where you can visit a bodega, try a glass or two and learn all about how this great wine is produced.

Castro Urdiales

Around 45 minutes' drive from Santander and even less from Bilbao, Castro Urdiales on the Bay of Biscay has grown from a little fishing port to a modern seaside town with several lovely beaches attracting lots of holidaymakers in summer. In a picturesque setting with a backdrop of mountains, this was originally a Roman settlement (called Flavióbriga at that time) and there is an archaeological site under the entire town and also examples of cave paintings, such as in the cave of Peña del Cuco, which contains drawings from the Upper Paleolithic period with images of deer, horses and goats. If you happen to be here on the first Friday in July there is the Coso Blanca local fiesta with fireworks.

Laguardia

Built high on a rocky outcrop, the lovely walled village of Laguardia has not changed much since the 13thC with its walls and 4 entrances remaining intact. This is a gateway for exploring the Rioja wine region and with the Villa Lucia bodega and museum here in the village it's an excellent start point. In the Middle Ages residents dug deep into the rock below their homes to create places for storing food and to take refuge during times of siege. This resulted in a maze of tunnels later found to be ideal for fermenting and storing wine.

Hondarribia

Also known by its Spanish name, Fuenterrabia, this is an inviting, relaxed Basque town and a popular seaside resort just across the border from France. There is a charming old quarter with narrow cobbled streets lined with ornate churches, shady squares and houses with colourful balconies. It has several lovely beaches including the main one, the 800m long Playa de Hondarribia, which is a great attraction in summer and you can walk along the Paseo Ramón Iribarren promenade that links La Marina fishermen's quarter (where there are some wonderful seafood restaurants and tapas bars) with the fishing port.

Santander & Bilbao

Standing along the north shore of a great bay of stunning natural beauty Santander is one of the most traditional holiday resorts of northern Spain where many of the Spanish themselves choose to holiday, escaping the more arid inland areas. There is a superb sandy beach, modern leisure amenities and an attractive promenade laid out with flower borders and trees, popular with the locals who enjoy strolling along it in the early evening and at weekends. The city has wonderful restaurants and shops plus a variety of nightlife and entertainment.

Over recent years Bilbao has been transformed into a vibrant modern city with plenty to entice tourists. The top visitor attraction is the Guggenheim museum with its striking modern architecture which is spectacular both inside and out.

There are permanent art displays and regular temporary exhibitions held here which are well worth a visit. There is much more to see (and best explored on foot) - the atmospheric Casco Viejo old quarter with its maze of cobbled streets filled with shops, cafés and restaurants; remarkable buildings, stunning bridges, squares, lovely parks, museums, art galleries. Shopping is also excellent and there is a large colourful Sunday market.